'17 Again' easily takes boxoffice crown

Zac Efron comedy earns $24.1 mil; 'State of Play' at No. 2

Warner Bros.' comedy fantasy "17 Again" ruled the domestic boxoffice this weekend with an estimated $24.1 million bow built heavily on support from young female fans of rising star Zac Efron.

Universal's Russell Crowe-toplined "State of Play" took the session's silver medal despite a soft $14.1 million opening, while Lionsgate's action sequel "Crank: High Voltage" debuted in sixth with just $6.5 million.

Disney's tween-girls magnet "Hannah Montana: The Movie" was the top second-week holdover, dropping 61% in its sophomore session to register $12.7 million in fourth place for a 10-day cume of $56.1 million.

And Warners' dark comedy "Observe and Report" finished seventh over its second weekend as the Seth Rogen starrer dropped 63% from opening grosses for a $4.1 million frame and $18.7 million cume.

Industrywide, the $107 million weekend represented a 14% improvement over the same frame last year, according to Nielsen EDI.

Year to date, 2009 is pacing 8% ahead of last year, at $2.73 billion. The year-over-year improvement appears more modest than it might as the year-ago period boasted an extra winter weekend.

In a limited bow this weekend, IDP/Samuel Goldwyn's fact-based drama "American Violet" unspooled in 61 locations and ran up $257,114, or a sturdy $4,215 per site.

The young topliner built his fan base from a starring role in Disney's "High School Musical" film and TV features. "17" was produced by New Line Cinema for $23 million.

"Play" -- adapted by Uni partner Working Title from a British television miniseries -- was the best-reviewed film among the weekend's wide releases, with RottenTomatoes counting 81% favorable reviews among critics tracked on its Web site. But its older-skewing profile never suggested a big opening.

Helmed by Kevin Macdonald ("Last King of Scotland"),"Play" attracted audiences comprised 55% of females, with a big 75% of its patrons over age 35.

"The picture outperformed expectations from the pre-release tracking," Uni distribution president Nikki Rocco said. "Also, adult films to tend to stick around longer, and it's got a good start overseas."

"Play" rung up a solid $2 million-plus in just three foreign territories with a solid bow expected in the U.K. weekend. The international coin could be key as "Play" was produced for an estimated $60 million.

Co-financed by Lakeshore Entertainment, "Voltage" drew audiences comprised 64% of males, with 60% of patrons under age 25. Some 31% of support came from 31% blacks and 26% Hispanic moviegoers.

"Based on the tracking, we were expecting a bigger weekend gross," Lionsgate distribution president Steve Rothenberg said.

"Voltage" stars Jason Statham and was co-directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, who also helmed the franchise original. The first "Crank" film opened in September 2006 with $10.5 million and grossed $27.8 million overall domestically.

Looking ahead to the final frame before summer tentpoles arrive, four pics are set to bow wide. Disney gets a jump on the pack, unspooling its James Earl Jones-narrated documentary "Earth" on Wednesday.